Treasured trash: Discarded items on display at New Durham town transfer station

By Katie Fiegenbaum

kfiegenbaum@fosters.com

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Click image to enlarge

John Huff/Staff photographer
Leo Mondoe sits in front of the many pieces of art on display at the New Durham transfer station that they saved from the scrap heap.

NEW DURHAM — A collection of treasures and trinkets await those who venture into the recycling building at the Transfer Station.

Foreman Joe Bloskey and Solid Waste Facility Attendant Leo Mondou have been hanging unwanted and unbroken items on the walls of the building for about two years. The collection ranges from paintings to old signs to oddities such as a bell from an old fire engine that has a bird painted on it.

“We don’t throw nothing away,” Bloskey, who has worked at the station for 26 years, said. “Whatever it is, we’ll take it.”

The collection started when residents came to the transfer station with items they either didn’t know what to do with or wanted to throw away, according to Bloskey. Instead of throwing the items out, Bloskey and Mondou have used them to decorate the recycling building. It’s also one small effort to save items from the landfill.

“The stuff we see in here ... we really are a wasteful country,” said Bloskey.

One wall of the medium-size facility is covered with paintings, maps and photographs while the other has antique clocks, signs, an ax and statues of animals. A kitchen table set from 1947 sits in a corner.

Click image to enlarge

Many pieces of art hang on the walls at the New Durham transfer station that have been saved from the scrap heap.
John Huff/
Staff photographer

Many residents come in to look at the collection, according to Bloskey.

“Lots of people like to come in and enjoy it,” he said. “Some will always ask us what’s new in our collection. We have quite a few people who come in and take pictures.”

A few residents think that some of the items are valuable. Bloskey described one resident who believes a framed canvas painting might be worth something.

“We’ve tried to look it up and didn’t find much, but we’re not parting with it anyway,” he said.

However much a painting or clock might sell for, Bloskey would never think of trying to part with anything from the makeshift museum.

“When something comes through that gate, it belongs to the town of New Durham, and that’s not allowed,” Bloskey said.

Winter is slow for new items, while summertime sees a lot of additions as people clean their houses or prepare to move. Whatever residents choose to get rid of, Bloskey and Mondou plan to accept.

“I’ll make room; I’ll just put up another two-by-four,” Mondou said.

Click image to enlarge

John Huff/Staff photographer
Joe Bloskey talks about the many pieces of art on display at the New Durham transfer station.

To see the collection, visit the New Durham Transfer Station and Recycling Station, 56 Tash Rd.

The facility is open Friday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the year, but closed on holidays.